Healthy Small Batch Matcha Blondies [Vegan, Gluten Free]

These matcha blondies are super moist and flavorful, and require little prep time! They're healthy, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free and yield a small batch.

Today we're highlighting one of the most underrated flavors: matcha! It always surprises me when people say they've never had matcha because for me, it's a close second favorite to chocolate.

This recipe also uses almond butter and almond flour, so the almond flavor really shines through and pairs perfectly with the matcha. Plus, you're getting all the health benefits of almonds. 🙂

These healthy matcha blondies are nutritious, vegan, and gluten free! They're super moist and flavorful, and easy to prepare. It's also a small batch recipe so you don't have to worry about leftovers (especially since these are filling)!

If you don't have time to read or make this now, be sure to click here to save the recipe on Pinterest!📌that way, you can always come back to it🥰

ingredients in vegan & gluten free matcha blondies

• almond butter: not only is it high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats, but it is essential to the texture of these blondies! Almond butter gives it the richness and moisture that a blondie needs.
• cane sugar: any type of granulated sweetener is fine (coconut sugar, regular white sugar, etc), we just need it so that these treats are sweet!
• maple syrup: another sweetener, but it adds a bit more depth of flavor. You can replace this with more cane sugar if you don't have any.
• unsweetened applesauce: this is also important for moisture!
• oil: you only need one tablespoon, but it is important for the richness of the blondie. You can use pretty much any type of oil, as long as it doesn't have too strong of a flavor. My go-to's are light-tasting olive oil or avocado oil (but regular vegetable oil works just as well)!
• oat milk: again, only one tablespoon just to thin out the batter a bit. You can use any nondairy milk you like, or dairy milk if you don't need these to be vegan.
• oat flour: since these are gluten free, blended oats serve as the flour here! Oats are gluten free as long as they are processed in a gluten free facility. Oat flour is also higher in fiber than regular flour, so it makes these blondies more satiating.
• almond flour: almond flour also acts as a flour substitute, and it also adds more richness! Be sure to buy fine, blanched almond flour (not almond meal) for the best texture.
• matcha powder: the star of this dessert! This gives the blondies the green color and an earthy flavor--it's hard to describe if you've never tried matcha, but it's very distinct and delicious. 🙂
• flaxseed meal: flaxseed meal is just ground up flax seeds, and it acts as a vegan egg replacement when mixed with water! This is what binds the ingredients together so that it doesn't fall apart when baked.
• vegan white chocolate chips: this is totally optional but highly recommended! The sweet white chocolate pairs so well with the bitter matcha flavor.

how to make small batch matcha brownies

The process for these is super simple! There is a bit of waiting time involved for setting the flax egg, baking, and cooling, but the actual prepping is super quick. You only need one bowl and a spatula. 🙂

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 6x4 inch pan (or 8 inch loaf pan) with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flaxseed meal and water. Mix and let this sit to firm up for 5-10 minutes.
3. Add in all the rest of the ingredients and mix until uniform. Transfer to the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes. Let cool at least 20 minutes (ideally at least 60 to be completely cooled and set, otherwise they will fall apart easier). Slice and enjoy!

tip: make sure you are using real matcha powder, not an imitation or a drink mix!

frequently asked questions

what can I use instead of flaxseed meal?

While I do believe flaxseed meal works best here, you can also use the same amount of ground chia seeds in its place (you can also technically use whole seeds but then it will be noticeable in the texture).

Theoretically, if you don't need this recipe to be vegan, an egg should work instead. However, I have not tested this, so try at your own risk.

does it matter if my almond butter is salted or not?

I personally use salted almond butter, solely because that's what I can find in stores. Since there is only 3 tablespoons, the difference is minimal, but you may want to add an extra pinch of salt if yours is unsalted.

For this recipe, I recommend using natural almond butter--one made purely from almonds, and maybe salt. Nut butters with added oils or any extra ingredients have different consistencies and may affect the outcome of this recipe.

If you don't have almond butter, most other nut or seed butters will work in place. Just note that some have stronger flavors than others, so if you're using peanut butter you will probably taste it. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it may not be what you want haha.

can I eat blondies when they're still hot?

Technically, you can, but the texture will be very loose and will likely crumble. I recommend waiting at least 20 minutes if you really can't wait, but ideally at least 60.

Because there are no eggs in this recipe, the blondies are not as firm as a traditional ones, but they should still hold their form once set.

how do I store these matcha blondies?

These blondies are moist, so they need to be refrigerated or else they will spoil quickly, especially if you live in a humid climate. They should last up to 5 days, but this is a small batch recipe so you should have no problem finishing it by then. 🙂

>>> click here to save the recipe on Pinterest so you can always come back to it!

I really hope you like this recipe! If you decide to make it, be sure to post a picture/story and tag me @nutritiousdelights on Instagram–I’d love to see!💕

Also, don’t forget to leave a comment if you make this so everyone knows how it goes 🙂 You can also feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about the recipe!🥰

More recipes you might love:

Vegan Strawberry Matcha Loaf Cake

Healthy Small Batch Brownies [Vegan, Gluten Free]

Healthy Small Batch Coffee Cake Cookies [Vegan, Gluten Free]

Matcha Castella (Japanese Sponge Cake)